Staying social can help people live longer

Interacting with family and friends and confiding in someone at least once a month could help reduce a person's likelihood of developing dementia, according to a new Australian study.

Research conducted by UNSW's centre for healthy brain ageing analysed 13 international studies following people aged 65 and over for an average of three years.

The Sydney-based team found that frequent interactions with family and friends reduced the risk of dementia and living in an 'engaging community' also reduced risk of death.

"It doesn't matter how old you are – get out there and stay socially connected," lead author Dr Suraj Samtani told Aged Care Insite.

"Opening your heart to others and having someone to talk to is key to keeping your brain healthy."

Studies show that relationships play a crucial role in maintaining emotional wellbeing and brain health.

Recent research has explored how social interactions slow cognitive decline by stimulating memory and improving language skills.

Close relationships also offer support to alleviate stress, promoting a healthier brain and longevity.

According to Dr Samtani, research has yet to show what specific type of social interactions is linked to a reduction in cognitive decline.

"I encourage people to open up to someone they trust, whether it's a friend or a health professional if they have no one else," he said.

"Sharing our burdens with others reduces our stress levels and is important for our overall well-being."

Dr Samtani said it didn't matter whether a person was in a romantic relationship or not, frequent interactions with family and friends had the same effect on a person's cognitive ability.

"It can be with any family member or friend, such as cousins, nieces, nephews, or lifelong friends," he said.

Despite one in four Australians over 65 living alone, 95 per cent of older people have reported they could receive support from people living outside their homes in times of crisis.

About seven per cent of older people living in Australia report regularly visiting friends or relatives away from home.

In 2020, nearly three in four people aged 70 and over engaged in face-to-face contact with their loved ones at least once a week.

Dr Samtani said that while social interactions were important for living longer, different types of contact led to different outcomes. 

"Living with others and doing community activities at least monthly were important for living a longer life," he said.

"Whereas having someone to confide in was significant in lowering your risk of dementia."

He emphasised that cultural variations also played a crucial role in how social interactions impacted likelihood of developing dementia.

The UNSW study identified that in most Westernized countries such as Sweden, Britain and Australia, older citizens who had monthly or weekly interactions with family or friends had a reduced risk of dementia.

Older people who participated in community activities once a week or month also reported to live longer.

"Having a high degree of social support was important in Western countries because more people live alone in these countries," Dr Samtani said.

"In contrast, social support did not emerge as an essential factor in the Asian cohort.

"Instead, being married or in a relationship predicted whether they lived longer and a lower risk of dementia."

The researchers theorised that being in a relationship was equivalent to having financial security in Asian countries.

Nevertheless, the study underpinned the importance of frequent social connections at any stage in life.

"We hope that helping people to stay engaged in conversations and maintain healthy friendships and relationships will help them to stay healthy and happy," Dr Samtani said.

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